Reentry program in North Carolina helps former felons find work

RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) – The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) started a reentry program in 2024 to help those formerly incarcerated get jobs on transportation work crews.
The program, which was created as a result of Executive Order 303, helps those who were incarcerated get identification cards to access housing and healthcare more easily.
'Removing barriers, creating job opportunities, and improving reentry services so participants can be successful and productive after they leave prison helps reduce crime and breaks the cycle of relapse,' said state Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins.
The Executive Order was signed in January 2024 under former Gov. Roy Cooper and continued under Gov. Josh Stein.
In addition to the reentry program, NCDOT's On the Job Training program trains formerly incarcerated people in operating heavy equipment, directing traffic in work zones or surveying property.
'Individuals with prior incarceration face significantly lower callback rates from potential employers compared to those without criminal records,' said NCDOT's Ebony Pittman, the agency's deputy secretary for Business Administration. 'This program provides a meaningful pathway to both short-term and long-term employment for people who may be losing hope due to their past. Ultimately, formerly incarcerated people deserve a second chance.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

2 hours ago

• Yahoo

Trump Will Delay Enforcing TikTok Ban for a Third Time, White House Says

Under a U.S. law that went into effect Jan. 19, 2025, it is illegal for American companies to host or distribute TikTok in the country as long as it remains controlled by its Chinese owner, ByteDance. The legislation passed last year with overwhelming bipartisan support, on fears that the popular video entertainment app's ties to China's communist regime make it a national security risk. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the ban. But since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued two executive orders delaying enforcement of the law, and now he's going to give TikTok — which has said it has more than 170 million U.S. users — yet another stay of execution. More from Variety Trump's $499 Gold Smartphone Is Probably Being Made in China, According to Experts Trump Mobile: President's Company Unveils Wireless Service Delivered via AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, Plans to Launch a U.S.-Made 'Sleek, Gold' Android Smartphone Shakira Says Being an Immigrant in the United States Means 'Living in Constant Fear': 'The Treatment of All People Must Always Be Humane' On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will sign an additional executive order this week 'to keep TikTok up and running.' The new deadline to reach a deal that would keep TikTok legal is now mid-September. 'As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,' Leavitt said in a statement (via CBS News). 'This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.' Earlier Tuesday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that a TikTok deal would probably require approval by China's government and he said, 'I think President Xi will ultimately approve it, yes.' Asked whether he has the legal authority to extend the deadline yet again, Trump claimed, 'Yes, I do.' Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, ByteDance is required to sell a controlling interest in TikTok to non-Chinese owners or be outlawed. The law does not permit Trump to postpone enforcement of the law. But he has done so anyway, as his administration tries to figure out a new structure for TikTok in the U.S. that would comply with the law. The Trump administration reportedly proposed spinning off TikTok's U.S. business into a new company majority-owned by U.S. investors, with ByteDance retaining a stake of less than 20% to comply with the law. Potential investors in TikTok could include Oracle, Blackstone and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which have been reported to be part of the deal talks. Oracle is seen as a logical partner, as the company has an existing agreement to host TikTok's U.S. user data. But the deal evidently fell apart amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China over Trump's move to impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods. In April, prior to Trump's previous deadline, ByteDance said that it was in discussions with U.S. government officials 'regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S.' but that an agreement was not finalized because 'there are key matters to be resolved.' ByteDance also said any agreement would be subject to approval under Chinese law. After TikTok lost an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the divest-or-ban law on First Amendment grounds, the app briefly shut down in the U.S. on Jan. 18. But less than 12 hours later, TikTok restored service — citing Trump's pledge to not enforce the ban while he sought to find a solution. Meanwhile, Apple and Google pulled TikTok from their U.S. app stores amid legal uncertainty over Trump's executive order delaying enforcement of the TikTok-targeted law, but restored TikTok in February after assurances from the White House they would not be held criminally liable for doing so. Trump, during his first term as U.S. president, tried to ban TikTok on national-security grounds but those efforts were shot down by federal courts. Trump joined TikTok in June 2024 during his presidential campaign. At a press conference in December, Trump said, 'I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok' because the app helped drive support for him among young voters. ByteDance has said 60% of its ownership is represented by 'global institutional investors' including BlackRock, General Atlantic and Susquehanna, with 20% owned by its Chinese founders and 20% by employees including those in the U.S. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar

Yahoo

5 hours ago

• Yahoo

Is TikTok getting banned? Trump says he'll 'probably' extend deadline again

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will "probably" extend the TikTok ban deadline yet again before its expiration on Thursday, June 19. "We probably have to get China approval. I think we'll get it," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, June 17. "I think (Chinese) President Xi will ultimately approve it." TikTok, a short-form video app, went dark for about 12 hours in January when China-based ByteDance failed to divest the app's U.S. assets, as required by federal law. Since coming into office on Jan. 20, Trump has issued two executive orders to extend the ban's deadline. But so far, a deal has yet to be struck, and the next deadline is Thursday, June 19. When asked by reporters if he has the legal basis to extend the deadline again, Trump said, "Yes, I do." If ByteDance does not divest TikTok by Thursday, June 19, the platform could be banned in the U.S. again. However, Trump has repeatedly signaled he would extend the deadline if the sale isn't finalized in time. Under federal legislation that put the TikTok ban in place, the president can implement a 90-day extension on the deadline to sell. But Trump didn't take this route in January or April. Instead, he signed executive orders delaying the ban by 75 days. If Trump wishes to sign another executive order ahead of the June 19 deadline, he can. Former President Joe Biden signed federal legislation in 2024 that gave ByteDance until Jan. 19, 2025 to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. Some politicians see TikTok as a national security threat, expressing concern that ByteDance may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied these claims, which remain unsubstantiated. However, ByteDance did not divest in time. In January, TikTok went dark for a little more than 12 hours in the U.S. after the app was effectively banned. U.S. internet hosting services made TikTok unavailable to access, and app stores removed the app for download. During the short-lived shutdown, Trump promised internet hosting services and app stores that they could restore TikTok and not face legal penalties. Under the federal legislation, companies could be fined $5,000 per user they help access TikTok. For companies like Google and Apple, this could mean a $5,000 fine for each user who downloads or updates TikTok. It wasn't until Feb. 13 that TikTok became available again in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This story will be updated. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok ban: Trump says he'll 'probably' extend deadline again

Skift

2 days ago

• Skift

TikTok Ban Delayed Again: What It Means for Travel Brands

At this point, it's unclear who might buy the app's U.S. operations, but Trump's press secretary has said the President does not want the app to go dark. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok's sale in the U.S. for another 90 days. It's the third time this year the President has given the social media giant a reprieve. The new deadline for the sale is September 17, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. In a statement, TikTok said it was "grateful for President Trump's leadership and support" in keeping the app onl